Novel Carry is a two-person shop based in Charlotte, NC - and we mean that literally. Steve machines our products in-house. Derrick handles product, marketing, and the community side of things. We're not a warehouse operation. We're two people who care deeply about everyday carry, and that shows up in everything we make.
Our Story
From blog to brand (2016)
Novel Carry started as a blog, Derrick's outlet for genuine enthusiasm for well-made gear and the EDC lifestyle. No grand plan, just a love for the space and something to share with people who got it.
The first product: SlideKick
That energy eventually turned into something real. SlideKick, a compact 12-in-1 EDC multi-tool, launched on Kickstarter in 2021 and funded at 148% of goal, with 322 backers pledging $29,643. Built from stainless steel or titanium, TSA-compliant, with an integrated magnetic bit driver and internal micro bit storage. A simple idea, done right.
A pause, then a pivot
Life got busy and Novel Carry went quiet for a while. Then Derrick met Steve at work. They bonded over knives and tools - the way guys like that tend to - and together brought Novel Carry back, this time cutting custom knife scales and handles for the EDC community out of their own shop.
Where we are today
These days we're best known for our fidget sliders. The category is full of options - we put our combined background in product development to work making something that feels right in the hand, looks clean on a desk, and can be enjoyed and upgraded for years.
When you buy from Novel Carry, you're buying something Steve made and designed from scratch.
Who we are
We've both spent our careers in product development — building products for large companies that have gone on to sell hundreds of thousands of units. We know what good process looks like, and we know how rare it is to actually give a damn about the person on the other end.
That's what we bring to Novel Carry.
Derrick: product, marketing, and customer experience. If you've ever sent a message to hi@novelcarry.com, he read it.
Steve: design, shop, and production. He machines, assembles, and finishes everything by hand in Charlotte. The tolerances are his. The craft is his.
We're a small shop, and we're proud of that. It's not a limitation, it's why the products are what they are.